18 Month Checkup

This week Ava had her 18 month checkup. She clocked in at 30.5 inches, 22.5 pounds – definitely getting bigger! Not only that, but she is getting even quicker about running around the house (and yard, and playground, etc.) This week’s other development was eliminating the pacifiers – it was easier than we thought!

Here she is during a little downtime watching some Baby Einstein in her rocking chair.

Last weekend at Sofia’s birthday party.

Playing in her princess castle. With Chase’s leash on.

Getting out of the castle…

Playing with balloons at another birthday party today.

And the fountain of course!

Which is way more fun when you play with the water.

Afterwards, a little swing time…

It is hard to believe that it has been a year and half already! Got to run after the little sprinter…..

Happy New Year!

One more video from Christmas. Ava has fun pulling her little alligator toy across the floor – more to the point, taking ‘gator for a walk has become a daily ritual! Here's a video of Ava doing the daily walk...

Video from AvaSheaAmeduri

We also just received the photo of Ava with Santa from our gym just before Christmas. Doesn’t she look just like a little Santa helper?

After all the fun of Christmas, we had to do something to start the new year out right as well. So on 1/1, we decided to go to the Sea Life Aquarium. Let’s just say that not only does Ava swim like a fish, but she loves to watch fish too.
Here she is pointing at some fish.

Watching the splash pool area.
Reaching for some bigger fish.
Mesmerized even more…
With snacks (goldfish appropriately) in the tunnel of fish.

Happily posing for the camera.
In the aquarium with fish around her.
It was a great start to the new year…I’m sure we’ll be back soon.

Christmas Part Two

Since Ava was a little worn out from all the Christmas activity, we saved some of the presents (and the fun) for the next day. She managed to eventually get through all the presents, and quickly found ways to play with all of them.
Here’s Ava trying to get Dad to take the baby doll’s pacifier.

Playing with the ornaments.
And the puppets (which Chase was very interested in).
Chillin’ with Pops.
Playing with hats on her new chair.
By the end of the day, Chase and Lulu were best of friends.
Now for some video fun.
First up, Ava on her new ATV, while watching some airplanes in the sky. Incidentally, about this time the neighbors drove by and said this was the smallest ATV they had ever seen in their life. Click the video below.

Video From AvaSheaAmeduri

Next, playing with the lights in front of the house. Click the video below.

Video From AvaSheaAmeduri

More fun with the lights. Click the video below.

Video From AvaSheaAmeduri

Hugging Chase and Lulu. Click the video below.

Video From AvaSheaAmeduri

And more driving the ATV. Click the video below.

Video From AvaSheaAmeduri

Ava definitely had a fun Christmas. She will be sorely disappointed when the lights and the tree come down. But on the plus side she has a lot of new toys to play with – thanks to Santa and all the family!

Christmas Day!

Ava was up bright and early (a full 90 minutes before the crack of dawn) ready for presents. Which was a good thing with how many Santa and everyone else had for her.

Ava, with her pink Santa hat, is ready to start opening presents.

And take the ornaments off the tree.

Eagerly awaiting the presents…

Rocking in the new chair from Pops and Neenee. (Note our “fireplace” in the background.)

Playing with her Fridge Gears from Papa and Lola.

Pushing her new doll around in the stroller. The only problem is that Ava seems to think that she can fit in the doll’s stroller….which is a tight fit.

Taking a break mid-opening.

Ava as a present herself.

Later in the afternoon we had a full house, with a bunch of friends over. Max and Mason had fun with the trains.

Ava and Sofie had fun posing for the camera.

And playing with boxes.

Ava could barely stay awake after all that activity, and didn’t finish her presents on Christmas. More for the next day!

Pre-Christmas and Christmas Eve

Ava is definitely discovering Christmas more this year. She loves the lights (every morning and night she squeals with delight when she sees them) and the lights on the tree. Of course here favorite is the little doggie…here she is petting him.

The weekend before Christmas one of the shopping centers did some artificial snow. Ava couldn’t stop laughing and chasing the snow around.

Christmas eve was a good chance for Ava to show off her Christmas dress. Here we are on the long walk into Christmas Eve mass.

Pausing for a family photo.

Working on holding hands while walking.

With Uncle John and Aunt Marcy.

After church we had the “feast of the seven fishes” at the house. Ava was definitely interested in the food.

Until there were some presents…

Which apparently are as much fun to climb as to open.

Ava went down early in anticipation of Santa Claus the next morning…